The measles epidemic kills more than 1,200 people in Madagascar

The largest measles outbreak in the history of Madagascar has hit the island with more than 115,000 cases documented, according to a report Associated press report Sunday. More than 1,200 people have died from the disease in the past seven months.

Only 58% of the population of the main island of Madagascar has been vaccinated against measles, a rate much lower than the 90 to 95% needed to prevent epidemics. Madagascar has a population of 26.2 million inhabitants.

In addition to its inadequate vaccination rate, Madagascar, an island nation off the east coast of Africa, suffers from a high rate of poverty and resources. Nearly 50% of the country's children are malnourished. "Malnutrition is the bed of measles," said Dr. Dossou Vincent Sodjinou, epidemiologist at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Madagascar AP.

"Unfortunately, the epidemic continues to grow but at a slower pace than a month ago," added Sodjinou. The epidemic that began in September affected mainly children under 15 years of age.

There is also a dearth of health information in the country and many parents are unaware of the free vaccines available.

According to the WHO, measles is one of the leading causes of death among children worldwide, with about 450 children dying from measles each day.

The WHO launched a third vaccination program in Madagascar last month, hoping to reach 7.2 million children from six months to nine years old. The Madagascar Ministry of Health also provides free medicines to the regions that need them.